G.R.A.A.

Goddard Retirees and Alumni Association

P.O. Box 163, Seabrook, MD 20703-0163

MAY 2006 22nd Year of Publication

IMPORTANT DATES:

May 9 / Mark your calendar for the GRAA Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Dr. Michael Ryschkewitsch, Deputy Center Director, will provide an update on the Center’s current programs and his perspective on NASA’s new Vision for Space Exploration. Reservations are required, so please call Alberta Moran at 301-937-7762 no later than noon on Friday, May 5th.
June 13 / Mark your calendar for the GRAA Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Ms. Paula Becker, Volunteer Coordinator/Data Services for the Wildlife and Heritage Service of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), will speak on the DNR’s use of NASA satellite imagery.
July 11 / Mark your calendar for the GRAA Luncheon at 11:30 a.m.
September 2 / The Alaskan Cruise/Land Tour is a “go” on HollandAmerica’s SS Zuiderdam. There are four categories of staterooms available, ranging from $2,986 to $3,446 per person. This is an 11-day adventure of the Klondike Explorer and Sawyer Glaciers, and participants will enjoy 6 days exploring the Yukon Territory. Call Alberta Moran for additional information or to reserve your stateroom for this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

COMMENTS FROM RON BROWNING, GRAA PRESIDENT: Dr. David Leckrone, Senior Scientist of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Project, briefed April luncheon attendees on the astronomical facts, conclusions formed, and challenges posed by observations of the universe through HST instruments during the past 15 years. Now that a fourth servicing mission has been approved for as early as 2007, plans are to replace gyroscopes, batteries, thermal insulation and a failed instrument, as well as to repair the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph. The equipment replacements and repairs will expand the HST’s capability to make more remarkable discoveries never envisioned when its instruments were conceived and initially developed, such as:

  • Dark energy comprises 73 percent of the universe.
  • Organic and inorganic material, such as found on Earth, comprises only four percent of the universe.
  • Dark matter forms much of the remainder, but there is no accurate measure of size, weight or expansion rate.
  • Universe expansion is accelerating and HST may be a tool in estimating the rate of expansion.

All GRAA members received a copy of the 2006 Membership Directory with the April newsletter. Board member Strat Laios merits a special round of applause for all his hard work and dedication in compiling membership data and preparing the directory for publication.

The election of GRAA board members will be held at the June luncheon and we are still seeking nominations to the seven-member board. A ballot is printed on the reverse of the newsletter if you choose to vote for the listed nominees or nominate yourself or other GRAA members as write-in candidates. Nominations should be mailed to the above address so as to arrive by June 3rd.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Bob Wigand reports that donations were received from the following members: Henry Iuliano, H. K. Lee, and Andy Mazurick.

FROM THE GODDARD ARCHIVES - IT HAPPENED IN MAY:

  • May 25, 1966: Delta launched Explorer 32 (aka Aeronomy Explorer 32) was an aeronomy satellite designed to directly measure temperatures, composition, densities, and pressures in the upper atmosphere on a global basis.
  • May 5, 1967: Scout launched Ariel 3, a cooperative research satellite of the United States and the United Kingdom (UK). It was designed to continue and extend previous UK satellite investigations in the atmosphere and ionosphere.
  • May 4, 1976: Delta launched the Laser Geodynamics Satellite (LAGEOS-1), the first spacecraft dedicated exclusively to high-precision laser ranging. It provided the first opportunity to acquire laser-ranging data that was not degraded by errors originating in the satellite orbit or satellite decay.

ENVELOPE STUFFERS FOR APRIL: Marj Gallagher, Marge Gustafson, Rose McChesney, Elaine Montgomery, Dave Moulton, Hugh O’Donnell, Bill Shields, Agnes Smith, Bob Wigand, and Frank Wrigley.

E-MAIL ADDRESS UPDATES: Jack K. Arrison (); Carl R. Bayne (); Bruce W. Bromberg (); Martin & Dianne Callahan (); Gladys Chasnoff (); David A. Coolidge (); Philip Davis (); Winfield H. Farthing (); Jack J. Gum (); Jerre B. Hartman (); George S. Hayne (); John. D. Oberholtzer (); John Lane (); Richard A. McClanahan (); and Brian C. Pierman ().

THE WHOLE TRUTH, NOTHING BUT: When is a retiree’s bedtime?

Answer: Three hours after he/she falls asleep.

REMEMBERING OUR FORMER COLLEAGUES:

  • Henry W. Albright, of Huntingdon, PA, passed away from a heart attack on March 2nd. Prior to retiring in 1990, he was an Electrical Engineer who worked in Building 5 for most of his career.
  • Frank A. Broedel, of Silver Spring, MD, passed away on January 28th. He was a Photographer during his career at the Center.
  • Larry E. Brown, of Falls Church, VA, passed away while in hospice care on April 19th. He was an Engineer who headed up the Field Facilities Branch during Goddard’s early days and before retiring served as a supervisor in several other branches.
  • Julius H. Hirschfield, of Lanham, MD, passed away from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease on February 18th. Before retiring in 1988, he held numerous supervisory positions, the last of which was Radiation Supervisor in the Thermal Plating Shop.
  • Herbert E. Whitelock, of Columbia, MD, passed away from Parkinson’s disease on March 26th. Before retiring in 1988, he was an Electrical Engineer and worked at Goddard on computer programs that gathered information from satellites in space. In his spare time, he enjoyed golfing, jogging, bowling and playing the saxophone. He was also involved with the MAD drama club at Goddard, belonged to two jazz bands, and sang and acted in Little Theater shows.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED: GRAA members are cordially invited and encouraged to help Goddard with its 2006 Space Day activities on May 4th. Volunteers are needed to conduct activities that promote math, science and technology education by nurturing enthusiasm for wonders of the universe. Some 1,500 to 2,000 sixth graders are expected to converge on the Center to participate in this exciting learning experience. Since the date of this event is only a few days away, please do not delay in volunteering your time and talents by contacting Leslee Cork at 301-286-0676 or via e-mail at .

GRAA NEWSLETTER MAILINGS: If you no longer wish to receive GRAA mailings, please forward a note to our Seabrook address or an e-mail to Dave Moulton at . If you have moved or want to correct the mailing address we have on file, write to our Seabrook address or send an e-mail to Strat Laios at .

LETTERS, WE GET LETTERS:

  • Henry Iuliano wrote, “I enjoy getting all the space information, but miss being out of the loop. Enclosed is a small contribution.”
  • Anne Van Allen wrote, “Thank you for the lovely spray of flowers, for the many expressions of condolence, and for attending the memorial service as we celebrated Roland’s life.”

GEWA EXCHANGE STORE: Are you game for one of the exciting and adventuresome trips sponsored by GEWA during the upcoming months? Just stop by the Exchange Store to see if tickets are still available for the following:

  • Atlantic City Show Package – June 8th and 9th for $119.00 per person (double occupancy) at the Tropicana Casino. The price includes: round-trip bus transportation, one night’s accommodations at the Tropicana, buffet dinner, show ticket, casino bonus, refreshments en route, bus tip and tourism fee.
  • One-Day New York Vacation – June 12th for $55.00 per person. The price includes round-trip bus transportation, refreshments en route, tips, and tourism fee.
  • Holiday Elegance at the Greenbrier – December 6th through 8th for $569.00 per person (double occupancy). Check quickly on the availability of this special excursion, as all tickets may have already been reserved.